‘You have my word, mate.’
Chapter Twenty-Two
Erin breathed deeply, savouring the clean air and warm sun on her face. She was standing on the deck of a yacht in transit to Queenscliff wharf from the Frigate. While on the Navy ship with the rest of the survivors, she’d been confined to crowded sleeping quarters outside of meal times. She accepted that their movement had been restricted to prevent interference in the safe running of the vessel, but having so little access to natural light had been tough on everyone.
The channel to access Queenscliff wharf had been cleared of sunken debris allowing smooth entry from the bay. Those boats at dock which were still above the waterline, were used by the Navy to speed up the transfer of passengers to shore. At any other time in her past she would have been in awe at the sleek lines and wooden deck of the yacht underfoot as it motored smoothly across Port Phillip Bay; but not today. This morning, all she wanted was to have firm land under foot again. She’d decided that the ocean was definitely not for her, and although the seasickness that had made her first three days a misery had passed, a constant unease remained in her gut.
The side of the yacht thudded dully against the rubber edging of the wharf causing Erin to stumble briefly. Two sailors jumped off to secure the bow and stern before fitting a short ramp to the edge of the boat. The passengers on deck shuffled forward, each keen to dismount. While she waited her turn, Erin scanned the shore for danger out of habit. Near constant vigilance against the plague was one of the key factors that had kept her and Jai alive until they’d joined Mark and Harry’s group. The wharf showed signs of earlier trauma. Fire damaged piers stood out from the shore like long black pencils balanced on end. On shore, army personnel awaited the arrivals, directing them toward the ferry terminal for processing.
Erin followed the rest from her boat into the ferry terminal where each arrival’s name was checked off a list before being corralled into the next holding room. Her heart jumped with excitement as she spotted Harry off to the side, stethoscope hung about his neck as he examined those arrivals experiencing injury or illness. His current patient was Lieutenant Bourke, who had submitted to having his bullet wound assessed, his navy shirt shrugged free of his left shoulder to expose the area. Every minute or two, Harry’s gaze would distractedly break away from his work to scout the line of arrivals. As Erin moved forward, his eyes skittered over her and down the line, then suddenly back to her again. A broad grin cracked across his face as he recognised her and raised an arm in greeting.
Harry waited until her name had been checked off at the front of the line, then called her over.
‘I didn’t recognise you for a second there, you must have put on half a foot of height since I last saw you!’ he said.
Erin returned his smile as she glanced down at herself, realising that she probably did look a little different. The clothes that she’d been issued at Jindabyne had gone from being large and baggy, to a snug fit as her body had stretched in height and filled out at hips and chest over the intervening months.
‘Your brother is going to be one relieved guy once he hears of your arrival,’ Harry added.
Erin’s heart skipped a beat at the news of her brother. ‘You mean Jai’s here as well?’
‘Yeah, the whole crew’s here. Everyone’s doing ok as well,’ he added. ‘We only got wind of what happened on King Island in the last few days, and without a list of survivors to know what happened to you... well let’s just say – it’s been an anxious wait.’
‘You two know each other then,’ interrupted Bourke as he buttoned up his shirt awkwardly with one hand.
‘Yep, Harry was part of the group that my brother and I joined after the plague broke,’ said Erin. ‘He fixed up my leg after some psycho farmer shot me, and then we just stayed on.’
‘Well, from the short time I’ve known her, she’s a tough kid,’ Bourke said. ‘Doesn’t surprise me that she bounced back quick enough from that injury.’
‘It wasn’t as bad as it sounded, the bullet had ricocheted, so it was only a shallow wound,’ Erin said, deflecting the compliment. ‘Lieutenant Bourke helped me out with some trouble I had in the camp.’
Harry’s expression immediately became concerned as he searched her face for more information. ‘Are you alright, did anything happen to you?’
‘Yeah, I’m fine, I’ll fill you in later.’
Harry nodded and turned back to Bourke.
‘Whatever you did, thanks for helping her out.’
‘I didn’t do much; Erin won her own battle. The bastard in question won’t be causing any further trouble though,’ said Bourke, indicating with a brief turn of his head a man being walked past. ‘My shoulder wound was courtesy of him as well.’
The three watched as Jeremy was led to the back of an army vehicle. His wrists were manacled as he limped heavily, staring resolutely ahead to avoid eye contact as the people surrounding muttered obscenities at him. He’d regained consciousness not long after being loaded onto the Frigate at King Island to find himself under arrest. The terminal head injury that Erin had prayed for, had unfortunately turned out to be little more than a concussion.
‘What’ll they do with him now?’ asked Harry.
‘He’s already been found guilty on one count of murder, and another of attempted murder. No sentence has been pronounced, but the Navy want to see him made an example. Personally, I want to see the fucker shot,’ Bourke said, anger clouding his features as he watched Jeremy get shoved into the back of the waiting vehicle. ‘The Fort’s cells will house him in the meantime until a decision’s made.’
‘Sounds like you’ve got one hell of a story to tell us later,’ said Harry with one eyebrow raised as he looked at Erin. ‘Look, I better get back to work. You’re headed to one of the larger hotel complexes in town to await housing allocation. I’ve promised Jai I’d call as soon as I found you, so I’ll let him know to go there, ok?’
Before he could move away, Erin gave him a big hug that Harry returned with one arm about her shoulders. ‘It’s so good to see you again, Harry. I can’t wait to see everyone. Make sure Jai doesn’t take too long to come and find me.’
Harry just chuckled. ‘No fear of that I reckon.’
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jai changed the bag he was carrying to his other hand as he looked sideways at his sister.
‘I still can’t believe how different you look, Sis. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with hair that long before.’
‘Yeah good one, Jai, because my hair’s the main thing that’s changed!’ Erin said, rolling her eyes at her brother with a grin.
‘Well you don’t look like my “kid” sister anymore; I’ll give you that. I just can’t get over how good it is to see you again and know you’re all right.’
Erin stopped her brother and gave him a hug. ‘I missed you heaps when I was over there. As much as that bloody camp sucked, the worst thing was not knowing if you were safe or not. If you died, that would be all my family gone. I don’t know what I’d do if that was the case,’ she said.
Jai gave her shoulder a squeeze. ‘You’d keep fighting, that’s what; but that’s not happening any time soon.’ Jai stepped away and slung the bag over his left shoulder with a grunt. ‘What the hell’s in this bag? I wouldn’t have thought you’d have much stuff after bolting from that camp. Weighs like a ton of bricks.’
‘Come on army boy, it’s not that heavy. I thought you’d be tougher than that now,’ she answered. Jai gave her a withering look that only made his sister’s smile broader. ‘It’s mostly cans. I got handed my food rations for the next two weeks seeing as they’re letting me move in with you guys.’
‘No wonder it’s so bloody lumpy then,’ muttered Jai under his breath. ‘Not far to go at least. We’re up around the next corner.’
Erin felt a tiny spurt of excitement at the thought of seeing everyone again. She looked about them as they walked, her pace quickening with desire to reach their destina
tion. A park was on the left of the road and ahead she could see a tall, red brick wall of the Fort. The ground before it still showed scars from the battle fought, and although the corpses had been buried and ground levelled once more, not a blade of grass sprouted from the diseased earth. Noticeable cracks branched through the brickwork, extending like webs from where the IEDs had been detonated.
‘Is that the army base?’ she asked, suppressing a shudder at the thought of a battle capable of causing such changes to the landscape.
‘Yep, but we won’t be staying there tonight. Most of the platoons have been allowed off site now that Queenscliff’s been cleared, although we’re all still clustered up this end of town. Our platoon is housed along this block,’ said Jai turning the street corner. ‘Each house has four or five people from the squad, and I can tell you, it is so much better than being in the shitty dorms of the fort.’
Jai nudged open a waist high gate to a simple weatherboard house nestled behind an overgrown front garden. ‘This is our place. I’ve already sorted out a room for you, so you won’t have to do much other than dump your bag and settle in.’
As they stepped onto the porch, the front door swung open. ‘What took you so bloody long, Jai? I’ve been waiting an hour for both of you to arrive!’ said Steph as she gave Erin a welcoming hug. ‘So good to see you honey,’ she said quietly into her ear before stepping back again. ‘Come on in. Lunch is nearly ready, so I hope you’re hungry!’
Erin’s nose wrinkled in pleasure at a waft of cooking food. ‘I can’t wait, that smells awesome!’ she said.
The three moved through the doorway inside. Just as the door was about closed, a hand gripped the edge. ‘Wait up, guys,’ Harry said, slipping through the crack behind them.
Jai dumped her bag into her new bedroom off one side of the hallway, then Erin followed the smell of cooking meat to the back of the house. The hallway terminated at a large open planned kitchen and family room. Floor to ceiling windows on the far wall showed a garden which had reverted to wildness. Mark was standing at the bench mashing some potatoes when he looked up and saw Erin. He flashed a smile and welcomed her before declaring the meal nearly ready to serve.
Erin found herself slightly overwhelmed, feeling truly safe and being surrounded by people that obviously loved her for the first time in months left her strangely emotional, and as she pulled back a chair from the table to sit, she found she had to blink away tears for a moment.
A warm hand clasped her shoulder gently. ‘You ok?’ asked Steph in a soft voice that didn’t carry to the others who were joking loudly in the kitchen.
Erin smiled as she wiped the back of her hand across her eyes. ‘Yeah, I’m really happy. I don’t know why I’m crying. Just standing here and seeing everyone, it’s just got me... I don’t know, Steph,’ she said, giving up trying to explain herself with a shrug of her shoulders.
‘Relief’s a funny thing, eh? When Jai and I found Mark here after being deployed, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry,’ Steph said.
Oblivious to their conversation, Mark placed a bottle of red wine on the table along with a few glasses. ‘Is this a jackpot or what?’ he said indicating the bottle. ‘I found two-dozen of them in our bedroom cupboard. You want a glass, Erin?’ he asked.
Erin looked uncertain. ‘I don’t know. I’m only thirteen, I don’t think I’m supposed to.’
‘Sorry, I keep forgetting; but you’re a thirteen-year-old that’s survived more than most adults. As a one off, I’ll give you a half glass seeing as it’s a special occasion. No need to drink it if you don’t want though, ok?’ he said.
Erin accepted with a small smile, taking the stemmed glass from Mark and placing it carefully on the table. Jai came and handed her a plate.
‘It’s ready to go, come over and load your plate up,’ he said.
The spread of food on the island bench of the kitchen was better than she’d seen since before the plague. Mashed potato, green beans, carrots and broccoli had steam rising from them. A joint of canned meat had been broken apart and stewed in homemade gravy until it fell apart at the touch of a fork. Erin felt her mouth flood with saliva at the sight and smell.
‘The garden had a raised bed full of veggies on the back fence. We’ve been working our way through them over the past week - I never thought I would enjoy fresh greens so much!’ said Jai as he heaped his plate with food.
Before long, everyone was seated at the table. With such a meal before them, little was said until plates were cleared, and hunger sated. Harry emitted an enormous belch from the end of the table that reverberated back off the walls.
‘My compliments to the chef,’ he said somewhat sheepishly.
‘Wouldn’t expect anything less from someone of your significant class and style, mate,’ Mark said, grinning at Harry’s embarrassment. ‘I hear you may have some good news to share?’ he said next, looking expectantly at the doctor.
Harry smiled, his discomfort instantly forgotten. ‘Damn right. My transfer’s been approved to start working at the research facility next week. I think I have you to thank for that if I’m not wrong?’ he said to Mark. ‘I seriously owe you, I don’t know how much longer I could have kept going in the clinic.’
‘Nah mate, I only supported your request. The opinion of a bottom ranked officer wouldn’t have swayed any decision. I reckon you were just lucky that the Navy was able to supply one of their doctors for a rotation onto land.’
‘Well either way, I’m just glad to be out for a while.’
Mark turned his focus to Erin, watching her quietly for a moment as she finished her meal, oblivious to the attention. She took a tentative first sip from the wine, pulling a face at the taste before setting her glass down.
‘You’ll like it one day, although probably better you think it tastes like vinegar for a while yet,’ Mark said with a half-smile. His smile failed as he looked like he was debating how to continue. ‘Some stories have started to leak out about what happened leading up to and during the attack on the camp. Sounded pretty shit to say the least. I still can’t help but think we’re not getting the whole truth yet; too many people trying to cover their own arses.’ He paused for a moment, waiting for Erin to meet his gaze. ‘What really happened?’
Erin looked down and stared at her plate for a few moments while she pushed the last few morsels of food around in the gravy, acutely aware she was now the focus of everyone’s attention. Abruptly she stopped and pushed her plate further into the table.
‘We got screwed by the Tasmanian government, by the Navy guards and in the end by the bloody Carriers that walked ashore. So yeah, it kind of sucked,’ she said, looking at no one in particular as she started. Everyone remained quiet, waiting. Erin continued, recapping her experiences at the hands of the guards and then the wretched debacle once the plague landed in the camp, deliberately keeping her emotions under wraps by describing what had happened as if it involved an entirely different person. And strangely, that was how it felt to her. Surrounded by her surrogate family, Erin found herself wanting to just be a kid again, no matter that it was nothing but an illusion in the current world where death didn’t give two shits if you were a child, woman or baby – it would tear your throat out and lap up the blood just the same.
As Erin finished describing Jeremy’s attempt on her life and the closing moments before marine support had arrived, she looked up at her friends and brother, her eyes dry. She felt lighter after the telling, like she had shrugged off a heavy weight that had been grasping at her core and was surprised to see silent tears falling from Steph’s eyes, while her brother looked equally distressed. He stood up and came around to her, resting both hands on her shoulders.
‘I’m so sorry that happened to you, if I could somehow take it away, I would in a heartbeat,’ he said, voice rough as he sought to keep it under control. ‘I thought I was getting you away from danger, not sending you to a different type of bloody animal, Sis.’
Erin looked up at her br
other. ‘It’s not your fault. Just like it wasn’t my fault, or something that my friend Rachael caused. The only person that’s responsible for what Jeremy did is the sick bastard himself – and the prick’s going to rot in jail or eat a bullet; hopefully the latter. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over.’
She gave her brother’s hand a quick squeeze to reassure him that she was ok, then pushed back from the table. The telling of her story had left her feeling relieved but tired, and combined with a stomach full of good food, all she wanted to do now was sleep. She excused herself and went to find her room. Her brother had already made up the bed, stuffing her sleeping back into a doona cover ready for use. She slipped off her shoes and jacket, then crawled underneath. Within moments, her breathing slowed, and she fell asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The sun peeked over the horizon, making dew sparkle upon overgrown lawns as Harry walked to his first shift in the new research facility. The site had been up and running now for over a week, given priority status by the army and government to the point that equipment had arrived even before the town was cleared of the plague.
The noise of barking dogs grew louder as Harry turned a street corner and approached the local pound. Live subjects were required to study the virus, and the pre-existing pens and cages of the council premises was the most suitable place to contain the animals. An electric whirring noise gained Harry’s attention, and he glanced up to find an automated camera tracking his movement toward the entrance. High cyclone fencing surrounded the complex, topped with coils of razor wire – a recent addition courtesy of the army. A squat building of dun coloured brick interrupted the fence, providing access to the facility through a reinforced door.
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